Residency in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at Northwell Health

About us

The Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Northwell Health sponsors both a six-year medical degree integrated training pathway and a four-year certificate only training pathway in oral and maxillofacial surgery. Currently, there are two six-year positions and a four-year position open. Both pathways meet the training standards set forth by the Council on Dental Accreditation and graduates receive a certificate in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The six-year curriculum also integrates the ability to earn a medical degree and complete a one-year internship in general surgery recognized by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

The training program provides a strong foundation in oral and maxillofacial surgery, including ambulatory anesthesia, dentoalveolar surgery and the management of odontogenic infections. In addition, it offers a uniquely robust tertiary surgical care experience which includes hard and soft tissue oral and maxillofacial trauma, hard and soft tissue cleft lip and palate surgery, orthognathic surgery, ablation and reconstruction of benign pathology, and temporomandibular joint surgery. A close working relationship with the Center for Head and Neck Oncology at Northwell Health Long Island Jewish Medical Center supplements the resident training experience with the ability to participate in multidisciplinary treatment of head and neck oncology patients. Upon completion of the program, trainees are well prepared for entry into academic programs, advanced fellowship training, and private practice.

Program overview

The program has achieved success in the placement of its residents in desirable positions after the completion of training. Successful certification of our graduates by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons is a hallmark of the program. The training program provides a graduated oral and maxillofacial surgery experience with increasing responsibilities and opportunities as residents advance through the program.

The program maintains its administrative base within the Department of Dental Medicine at Northwell Health Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Educational and patient care assignments occur at the following institutions:

Each center provides full-time and part-time faculty to teach the residents in the clinic, the emergency room, at the bedside, and in the operating room. Each facility contributes uniquely to the overall training experience by providing differences in case load and intensity, which is essential to the well-balanced training experience required by contemporary oral and maxillofacial surgeons.

The chief and senior residents operate on all major oral and maxillofacial surgery cases and are responsible for all aspects of patient care. Senior residents assume teaching functions in relation to the oral and maxillofacial surgery junior residents. Working with the attending staff, residents participate in the lecture series, in the preparation of material for clinicopathological conferences, and in the presentation of cases at grand rounds and other clinical conferences. Senior/chief residents also participate in the teaching of pre-doctoral students at the School of Dental Medicine at Stony Brook during this rotation. During the six years, it is expected that each resident will participate in a research project and annually prepare a scholarly paper that is suitable for publication or presentation at a national meeting.

Upon completion of the medical degree requirements, residents in the six-year pathway will be eligible to begin the 12-month experience in general surgery during year five. It is expected that Step III will be completed prior to completing the internship year in general surgery.

Medical school

We are proud to announce that our residents will be attending the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell beginning July 1, 2018. The Zucker School of Medicine currently ranks among top medical schools nationwide for primary care (2018 U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools) and allows us the opportunity to have meaningful input into the medical education that our residents receive while enrolled as medical students.

Those accepted into the six-year integrated pathway of the training program will receive transfer credit for selected course work completed during dental school from the Zucker School of Medicine. During the first year of residency training, residents are enrolled as medical students in a customized, cutting edge medical school curriculum designed to complement our surgical curriculum. As medical students in the Zucker School of Medicine, our residents are eligible for financial aid, student healthcare benefits and scholarship opportunities that truly make this a unique and highly desirable partnership. This information will be reviewed in detail during the interview process.

As medical students, all medical degree integrated pathway (six-year) residents are required to pass Step I and all components of Step II of the National Medical Licensing Examination on the schedule set forth by the School of Medicine curriculum. Given the time constraints of oral and maxillofacial surgical training, failure to meet educational milestones in the medical school or dismissal for any reason will result in dismissal from the training program. Dismissal from the training program is grounds for dismissal from the Zucker School of Medicine.

Application process

Eligible applicants interested in the oral and maxillofacial surgery training program at Northwell Health should apply through the American Dental Education Association postdoctoral application support service (ADEA PASS), which accepts applications beginning July 1. Eligible applicants will have graduated from a predoctoral dental program in the U.S. accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation or a predoctoral dental program in Canada accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada prior to enrollment in the residency program. US citizenship or permanent resident status is a requirement. Visas are not sponsored by the program/institution at this time.

Interview dates for the upcoming cycle will be Monday, October 23, 2017 and Wednesday, November 1, 2017. Interviews will be offered on a rolling basis once completed applications have been received and until all interview slots are filled. No incomplete applications will be reviewed and no applications will be reviewed after October 15, 2017 under any circumstances. We strongly recommend all applications be submitted as early as possible, and no later than October 1, 2017 is ideal.

Applications are jointly reviewed by representatives from the medical school and residency program faculty. When an interview is granted, the program will inquire if the applicant has an interest in the certificate (four-year), the integrated medical school (six-year) pathway, or both for the purposes of scheduling interviews. For all of those that are eligible and interested in the six-year pathway, an interview with representatives from the admissions department at the Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine will occur on site on the same day as interviews for the residency program.

Predoctoral dental programs in the U.S. accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation or Predoctoral dental programs in Canada accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of Canada; OR

Dental Medicine

Our representatives are available to schedule your appointment on weekdays from 8am to 8pm and weekends from 9am to 5pm. You may also leave a voicemail message after regular business hours, and we will return your call.